Human Rights

© UNICEF/UN0311502/Tremeau

Tuesday’s Daily Brief: Hunger crisis in DR Congo, Swine Fever in Asia, Venezuela death investigation call, updates on Eritrea and Syria

2 July 2019

This Tuesday, UN News covers: Growing food crisis in DR Congo; Swine Fever threatens millions of livelihoods in Asia; Human Rights Council told of persistent violations in Eritrea; and the humanitarian impact of on-going fighting in Syria.

UN Photo/Laura Jarriel

Venezuela: ‘Shocked’ by alleged torture, death of navy captain, UN human rights chief urges ‘in-depth’ investigation

2 July 2019
Americas

The UN human rights chief has expressed her deep concern over the alleged torture and subsequent death of a retired navy captain who had been imprisoned in Venezuela, urging authorities to conduct a prompt, thorough, independent, and transparent investigation into his death.

© UNICEF/UN0318500/Watad

New UN-Syrian Action Plan signals an 'important day' for child protection, says UN envoy

1 July 2019
Middle East

The top UN official charged with representing the interests of children caught up in armed conflict, has signed a landmark new agreement on child protection with the Force Commander of a main Syrian opposition military alliance, it was announced on Monday, aimed at ending and preventing the recruitment and use of children under the age of 18.

© UNHCR/Gordon Welters

1.4 million refugees set to need urgent resettlement in 2020: UNHCR

1 July 2019

More than 1.4 million displaced people in over 60 refugee hosting countries will need resettlement next year, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Monday, while also supporting a call for far greater protection for vulnerable LGBTI individuals seeking asylum.

UN-GLOBE

World Pride underscores that all people are born ‘free and equal’ in dignity and human rights

30 June 2019
Global

The empowering message straight from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) that "all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and human rights" resonated on Sunday from UN-GLOBE members who participated in the World Pride parade in New York City.

© UNICEF/UN0248372/Watad

Thursday’s Daily Brief: dire living conditions in Idlib, migrants at US southern border, end in sight for trachoma, Human Rights Council

27 June 2019
Global

This Thursday, we cover: the dire humanitarian situation in Syria’s Idlib; living conditions at the US-Mexico border denounced by the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF); trachoma-related blindness on the verge of being eliminated; and updates from the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

UNAMA/Fardin Waezi

‘Words must never be met with violence’ urges UN, following Taliban threat to journalists  

27 June 2019

Following last week’s public threats by Taliban militants to deliberately target media outlets in Afghanistan, the United Nations mission chief in the country reiterated his call on Thursday for journalists’ rights to be protected, underlining the power of press freedom to advance peace, justice and human rights. 

© UNICEF/Balam-ha Carrillo

After Rio Grande tragedy, UNICEF chief highlights ‘dire’ detention centres on US-Mexico border

27 June 2019

The shocking image of a drowned Central American migrant and his infant daughter on the banks of the river dividing Mexico and the United States, continues to evoke strong reactions, the latest from the head of the UN Children’s Fund.

UNMISS/JC McIlwaine

Wednesday's Daily Brief: migration tragedy in the Rio Grande, drugs report, Torture Victims Day

26 June 2019
Global

Top news, this Thursday are: the migration debate spurred by the tragic image of a drowned man and his daughter in the Rio Grande; the Khashoggi killing discussed at the Human Rights Council; key findings from the latest UN report on drugs; updates from South Sudan and Mali; International Day in Support of Victims of Torture; and an event on tolerance in at UN headquarters in New York.

UN Photo/Tobin Jones

Vile act of torture prohibited ‘under all circumstances’, UN chief affirms on International Day to support victims

26 June 2019
Global

While the prohibition of torture is “absolute, under all circumstances”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres bemoaned the fact that “this core principle is undermined every day” - in detention centres, prisons, police stations, psychiatric institutions and other places where captor can prey on captive.